JK Rowling

Critics bemoan Rowling's absence in Harry Potter reunion

There has been speculation that the writer was shut out of the programme after her previous comments about trans people divided public opinion.

Rowling does not appear with the cast members in the special, and is only seen in archive video clips.

Harry Potter 20th Anniversary - Return To Hogwarts is released on 1 January.

The special sees former child stars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint reunite with fellow cast members including Robbie Coltrane, Helena Bonham Carter, Jason Isaacs, Gary Oldman and Ralph Fiennes.

JK Rowling unveils The Ickabog, her first non-Harry Potter children's book

The Ickabog is her first children's story not to be linked to Harry Potter. She wrote it over a decade ago for her own children and has now dusted it off.

It's for "children on lockdown, or even those back at school during these strange, unsettling times", she said.

She had previously referred to it only as an unnamed "political fairytale".

Chapters of The Ickabog are being published daily until 10 July on The Ickabog website.

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JK Rowling donates £1m to two charities

Half of the money will go to Crisis which helps homeless people, and half to Refuge to support victims of domestic abuse.

Rowling's donations come amid #HarryPotterDay on Twitter.

Saturday also marks the anniversary of one the author's major events in her stories.

On Twitter, Rowling said: "Today's the 22nd anniversary of the Battle of Hogwarts, but I am going to be honest and say that it feels inappropriate to talk about fictional deaths.

"Too many people are losing loved ones in the real world."

Harry Potter author JK Rowling has secretly bought her childhood home in Gloucestershire

The author lived there between the ages of nine and 18 and in 2011 bought the cottage through a property company in her married name.

She paid about £400,000 for the house, which is said to have inspired key elements of the young wizard's story.

Land Registry records show in September 2011, Edinburgh-based Caernarfon Lettings Ltd, which lists the author's husband Neil Murray as a director, bought Church Cottage.

The property was sold by BBC producer Julian Mercer, who himself had bought it off the Rowling family in 1995.

JK Rowling assistant to pay back fraud money to Harry Potter author

Amanda Donaldson, 35, from Coatbridge in North Lanarkshire, must pay £18,734 back with interest.

The author pursued damages in a civil case at Airdrie Sheriff Court under her married name Joanne Murray.

She said the money would be donated to her charity Lumos.

Donaldson was dismissed from her job in Ms Rowling's Edinburgh office in 2017 over the incident.

Sheriff Derek O'Carroll found Donaldson used a business credit card to purchase goods and withdraw money which were for her own use.

JK Rowling made Companion of Honour

The 52-year-old said she felt "deeply honoured and proud" to get the award.

"To be included in the distinguished and diversely talented company of the other Companions of Honour, especially as a female writer, is a particular privilege," she said in a statement.

Membership of the Order of the Companions of Honour is a special award held by only 65 people at any one time.

Established in 1917 by George V, it recognises services of national importance.

Rowling, whose first name is Joanne, was awarded an OBE in 2001.

JK Rowling apologises over Trump disabled boy tweets

A video emerged that appeared to show the US president refusing to shake the boy's hand at the White House.

"How stunning, and how horrible, that Trump cannot bring himself to shake the hand of a small boy who only wanted to touch the president," the author said.

But Marjorie Kelly Weer, mother of Monty, said Rowling's interpretation of the clip was wrong.

The Harry Potter author tweeted: "Re: my tweets about the small boy in a wheelchair whose proffered hand the president appeared to ignore in press footage.

JK Rowling fan guesses latest Cormoran Strike book title

After she was asked on Twitter to give a hint as to what the book would be called, Rowling said if someone correctly guessed she would confirm it.

She then hinted the title was two words made up of _ _ _ H _ _ / _ H _ _ _.

After many suggestions including Eighty Shoes, Mashed Chips, Mayhem Sheep and Mighty Thumb, someone correctly guessed Lethal White.

"Well, that was fun," Rowling tweeted, before promising the fan a signed copy of the book, "when I finally finish it".

JK Rowling hits back over threats to burn Harry Potter books

Rowling's recent Twitter feed has been filled with her retweets criticising the president's recent travel ban.

Some followers have taken umbrage with her stance, with several saying they have burned her books or plan to do so, and one suggesting she "should stay out of politics".

But the novelist has proved a match for her critics with her mocking responses.

One Twitter user said they would now "burn your books and movies, too".

Syrian girl, 7, sent Harry Potter books by JK Rowling disappears from Twitter

Bana Alabed and her family had attracted worldwide attention for their tweets from war torn Aleppo.

But now the account appears to no longer exist.

Although it's no longer possible to see any of her messages, reports suggest her last post read: "We are sure the army is capturing us now. We will see each other another day dear world."

The tweet was signed by Bana's mother Fatemah.